PHILADELPHIA — Andrew Bynum is ready for his homecoming, however boo-heavy it may be.

The Cavaliers center told reporters Wednesday before his team’s game in Milwaukee that he expects to play Friday night at Wells Fargo Center against the Sixers, which Bynum called “just another game.” Bynum missed all of last season with the Sixers while battling with knee bone bruises.

And as for the booing…

“I think they’ll probably boo, but that’s their choice,” Bynum said. “It wasn’t my choice to get rid of me. I don’t feel bad at all (about last season). … If I was not hurt, I would’ve played. That’s really the end to that story.”

Bynum, who’s coming off the bench for the Cavaliers, has seen a gradual step-up in minutes as he progresses from the arthroscopic knee surgery he underwent in March while with the Sixers. The 7-footer entered tonight’s game averaging 6.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 12.6 minutes per game. Recently, he said he’d been experiencing “little sharp pains” in his surgically repaired knees, but that he’s going to play through it.

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A plethora of knee problems sidelined Bynum throughout the 2012-13 season, as did a knee injury incurred in November 2012 while bowling. Eventually, he practiced with the Sixers in January, before he gave way to multiple setbacks and residual pain.

Bynum’s minutes against the Sixers won’t be excessive, though the riff-raff surrounding him certainly will.

“It’s going to be a very interesting night. That’s all I’ll say,” Sixers forward Thaddeus Young said.

The 26-year-old Bynum is in the first year of a two-year, $24 million deal with the Cavaliers, though only $6 million of his salary is guaranteed. The team holds the option on Bynum for the 2014-15 season.

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Jason Richardson remains on schedule for a return to the court around the All-Star break, the guard said.

Workouts by Richardson, who’s been out since last February following left knee surgery, have been reduced to the aquatic realm, with the guard swimming timed laps at a pool at Saint Joseph’s University. He said he has not been cleared for any impact conditioning, which includes anything basketball-related or even running on a treadmill.

Richardson, acquired by the Sixers in the same deal that brought Bynum to Philly in August 2012, is owed $6.2 million this season and holds a player option of $6.6 million for next season.

He said he’ll have a follow-up MRI next week.

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NOTES: The Sixers have hired Rod Baker to coach their NBA D-League franchise, the Delaware 87ers, an NBA source said. Baker most recently coached last season as an assistant with the D-League club in Bakersfield. The 87ers open their season Nov. 23 against visiting Canton. … The Sixers wore black bands on the right shoulders of their jerseys in memory of Jeff Millman, a 50-year employee of the franchise and the team’s longtime equipment manager who passed Tuesday.